El Nino conditions but mild April forecast
El Nino conditions but mild April forecast
"El Nino conditions are now present in the tropical Pacific Ocean," said MetService Meteorologist Georgina Griffiths. "Cyclone Pam produced one of the strongest reversals of the tropical trade winds seen in recent years. Known as 'westerly wind bursts', these can kick-start El Nino, since they allow warmer waters to push towards South America."
Over the last few weeks, waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific (the El Nino breeding ground) have warmed, to the point that El Nino thresholds have now been crossed. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), a measure of pressure between Darwin and Tahiti, is also now sitting in El Nino territory (-1.1). El Nino conditions are forecast to continue through the southern winter (with a 60% chance of continuing El Nino conditions).
But what does that mean for New Zealand?
"In the short-term, weather sequences, rather than El Nino, will influence New Zealand rainfall and temperature," Griffiths commented. The MetService outlook for April indicates above average temperatures right across the country.
Highs are expected for the start of April, producing generally drier and warmer conditions than usual for the first week of the month. "But for the remainder of April, lows are forecast to move into the New Zealand region, bringing unsettled, and often wet weather to the country," said Griffiths.
* Lows to dominate New Zealand's weather for much of April.
* A warmer than average April is expected across New Zealand.
* Above normal April rainfall for the north and west of the South Island,also from Taranaki to Wellington.
* Near
normal April rainfall for the north and east of the North
Island,
the eastern South Island, and Southland.
For more information, the latest Rural Monthly Outlook can be found under the Rural section on metservice.com.
ENDS